Migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border dropped to levels not seen since 1970, according to newly analyzed government figures.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border declined sharply in fiscal year 2025, reaching the lowest level recorded in more than half a century, according to a new analysis of federal data released by Pew Research.
U.S. Border Patrol recorded 237,538 migrant encounters during the 2025 fiscal year. Because the federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1, the total includes roughly four months during the Biden administration, with the remainder occurring after President Donald Trump took office.
The 2025 figure represents a steep decline from previous years. Border Patrol recorded more than 2.2 million encounters in fiscal year 2022, over 2 million in fiscal year 2023, and approximately 1.5 million in fiscal year 2024. The 2025 total marks the fewest encounters since 1970, according to the Pew analysis.
When months associated with the Biden administration were removed from the data, the decline became even more pronounced. Since February 2025, monthly encounters along the southwestern border have remained below 10,000. Those totals are lower than during the COVID-19 pandemic years and represent the lowest monthly levels recorded over the past 25 years.
Data shared by InteractivePolls highlighted the trend, showing annual totals falling from more than 2 million encounters in 2022 and 2023 to fewer than a quarter-million in 2025.
September 2025 recorded 8,386 encounters along the southwest border, an 84 percent decrease from September 2024, according to a House Homeland Security Committee release.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from New York, attributed the decline to changes in border enforcement. He said apprehensions have fallen to the lowest level in half a century and cited expanded resources at the southwest border, the end of catch-and-release policies, and investments in border barriers, technology, and staffing.
Garbarino said Republicans aim to preserve the current enforcement framework and prevent what he described as abuse of the immigration system seen during the previous administration.
Recent enforcement activity has also coincided with increased drug interdictions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection highlighted a January seizure in El Paso, where officers discovered more than 24 pounds of cocaine hidden in a vehicle, according to a CBP update.
Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, said border numbers have continued to drop for five consecutive months, adding that enforcement agencies are now better positioned to carry out their duties.
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas, said the latest figures reflect a reversal from what he described as years of open-border policies, adding that border security has strengthened under the current administration.
Original article
Comments